Prisoners in Laios at Portlaoise jail take step to crime free life after jail

The higher education programme for students of Portlaoise Prison was highlighted at a national conference of Further Education and Training (FET) leaders and practitioners.

A statement from the Education and Training Boards (ETBs) of Ireland said the event heard from the Irish Prison Service and people who have served prison sentences about the critical role played by Laios Offaly ETB (LOETB) and other ETBs in delivering prison and community education, and the need for continuity “beyond the prison gates”.

LOETB Director of FET Tony Dalton highlighted a course delivered at Ireland's high security jail in Portlaoise.

“Our approach to education is innovative and person-centred, with exciting new developments taking place all of the time. An excellent example of this is 'A footbridge to the Pathway', a pilot initiative between LOETB  and South East Technological University’s (SETU) Lifelong Learning Department.

"A bespoke LOETB / SETU tertiary higher education programme for students in Portlaoise Prison, the initiative speaks to the key values of equality, diversity and inclusion in LOETB’s Portlaoise Prison Education Unit, with ten of the 12 participating students having completed the requirements for year one of a degree programme," he said.

The project was highlighted at Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) National FET Conference in Cavan where Dr Emma Regan, Director of Care and Rehabilitation with the Irish Prison Service also spoke about the benefit of prison education.

“Recent international analyses has found that people who engage in prison education are significantly less likely to reoffend. Post-secondary education shows the strongest effects, with vocational and adult basic education also delivering meaningful reductions. Education also improves employment outcomes, with increased likelihood of gaining employment following engagement. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

Pictured at the ETBI 2026 Further Education and Training (FET) Conference which brought over 300 FET leaders and practitioners from across Ireland’s 16 Education & Training Boards together, Paddy Lavelle ETBI General Secretary, Laois Apprentice electrician and current Rose of Tralee Katelyn Cummins, Tony Dalton, Director of FET in Laois and Offaly ETB and Dr Joe Collins, Director of FET ETBI.

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“We also know this is vital in supporting rehabilitation and public safety in the Irish context. CSO data shows over half of those released in 2019 reoffended within three years. However, if we are serious about reducing the figures, we must ensure that our interventions are supported beyond the prison gates and that there are joined-up education and training pathways from custody to community,” she said.

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Marian Harkin said her Department is proud to support the ETBs in delivering prison and community education in partnership with the Irish Prison Service so that people have the supports they need to progress into further learning, training and employment.

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The two-day conference also included an address by Laois apprentice electrician and Rose of Tralee, Katelyn Cummins, who is using her platform to inspire women and girls to pursue apprenticeships and follow their ambitions.